Nannies
Care for children in private households and provide support and expertise to parents in satisfying children's physical, emotional, intellectual, and social needs. Duties may include meal planning and preparation, laundry and clothing care, organization of play activities and outings, discipline, intellectual stimulation, language activities, and transportation.
Also called: Family Assistant · Family Manager · Governess · House Manager · Household Manager · Nanny
Median pay (national)
$32,050
$22,900–$44,560 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
520,180
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-2.9%
~160,200 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for nannies shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $44,560 versus $22,900 at the bottom 10% — 1.9x. The median of $32,050 leaves roughly 39% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -2.9% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 160,200 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 54 states with released data, District of Columbia pays the most for this role (median $45,400, +42% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $21,150 — a 115% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Monitoring, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Learning Strategies
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Instruct children in safe behavior, such as seeking adult assistance when crossing the street and avoiding contact with unsafe objects.
- Remove hazards and develop appropriate boundaries and rules to create a safe environment for children.
- Perform first aid or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when required.
- Instruct and assist children in the development of health and personal habits, such as eating, resting, and toilet behavior.
- Regulate children's rest periods and nap schedules.
- Teach and perform age-appropriate activities, such as lap play, reading, and arts and crafts, to encourage intellectual development of children.
- Help prepare and serve nutritionally balanced meals and snacks for children.
- Model appropriate social behaviors and encourage concern for others to cultivate development of interpersonal relationships and communication skills.
- Organize and conduct age-appropriate recreational activities, such as games, arts and crafts, sports, walks, and play dates.
- Assign appropriate chores and praise targeted behaviors to encourage development of self-control, self-confidence, and responsibility.
Tools & technology
- Educational software
- Scheduling software
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Psychology
- Education and Training
- Public Safety and Security
- Sociology and Anthropology
- Transportation
- Medicine and Dentistry